Baltimore Ravens Rely on Defensive Health and Depth to Fuel Super Bowl Dreams in Critical Season With High Expectations and Pressure
As the Baltimore Ravens enter the 2025 NFL season with championship aspirations, there is little doubt that their defense remains one of the team’s most powerful weapons. Built around a blend of veteran leadership, young talent, and smart coaching, the Ravens’ defense has long been a defining characteristic of the franchise’s identity. But as the season draws near and intensity ramps up in training camp, one truth stands out as perhaps the most critical factor in determining the team’s success this year: the defense must stay healthy.
The Ravens boast one of the deepest and most balanced defensive units in the league, but even the most talented groups can struggle if key players can’t stay on the field. Injuries have taken their toll in recent seasons, and 2024 was no exception. Marlon Humphrey, Marcus Williams, and other starters missed significant time, which forced the coaching staff to juggle lineups and lean on young, untested players earlier than anticipated. While the defense still performed at a high level overall, the impact of missing key personnel during critical stretches was felt—especially in the postseason.
Entering 2025, the pressure is even greater. The Ravens were one win away from reaching the Super Bowl last year and are now seen as one of the favorites in a loaded AFC. Expectations are high both inside and outside the building, and for good reason. The talent is there at every level of the defense—up front, at linebacker, in the secondary. But staying healthy may ultimately determine whether that talent translates into consistent dominance over a 17-game schedule and, more importantly, in January and February.
At the heart of Baltimore’s defense is linebacker Roquan Smith, the emotional and tactical leader who sets the tone for the entire unit. Since arriving via trade from Chicago in 2022, Smith has elevated the performance and mentality of the defense. His combination of speed, intelligence, and physicality makes him one of the best linebackers in football. But even Smith has dealt with minor injuries, and his availability is crucial. When he’s on the field, the defense operates with a level of confidence and aggression that few teams can match. His ability to diagnose plays, communicate adjustments, and clean up runs sideline to sideline is irreplaceable.
Next to Smith, Patrick Queen forms one of the most dynamic linebacker tandems in the league. Queen had a breakout season in 2024, showing improved instincts and coverage skills while maintaining his trademark explosiveness. However, with Queen entering a contract year and the Ravens having already made tough financial decisions elsewhere on the roster, his future with the team remains uncertain. Regardless, his presence this year is vital. The drop-off behind Smith and Queen, while manageable in short spurts, would become a problem if either were to miss extended time.
Up front, the defensive line is anchored by Justin Madubuike, who emerged as a Pro Bowl-level disruptor last season and earned a long-term contract extension. Madubuike’s ability to generate interior pressure is a rare commodity, and he often sets the tone for the entire pass rush. His consistency and durability were major factors in Baltimore’s defensive success in 2024, and the team will once again lean heavily on him in 2025. Alongside him are key contributors like Broderick Washington and Michael Pierce, two players who are stout against the run and bring veteran presence to the rotation.
Depth on the defensive line is decent, but injuries to starters could expose some vulnerabilities. Young players like Travis Jones and rookie draft picks will be counted on to step into larger roles if needed, but the ideal scenario involves keeping the core intact and fresh. The same holds true for the edge rusher group, where Odafe Oweh, David Ojabo, and Tavius Robinson are expected to lead the charge.
Oweh, entering a pivotal year in his development, has all the tools—speed, length, and power—but injuries have hindered his ability to find consistency. Ojabo, still somewhat unproven due to his own injury history, possesses first-round talent but needs to stay healthy to prove he can handle a full workload. Robinson flashed potential in limited action as a rookie, but asking him to carry a major pass-rushing load if others go down would be risky. Baltimore may explore adding a veteran pass rusher as insurance, but the health of this group will be a major storyline throughout the season.
The secondary, once considered the deepest part of the defense, is now where health concerns loom largest. Marlon Humphrey, a three-time Pro Bowler and the heart of the cornerback room, missed time last year with foot and calf issues. When healthy, he remains a shutdown corner who can follow the opposing team’s top receiver anywhere on the field. But the team needs him at 100% to maximize its defensive potential. His physical style of play and willingness to mix it up in the run game come with risk, and Baltimore will need to manage his reps during camp and the season to keep him fresh.
Opposite Humphrey, Brandon Stephens emerged as a consistent and versatile presence in 2024, but asking him to be the CB1 for long stretches again would test the limits of his skill set. The Ravens drafted Nate Wiggins in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, and he brings elite speed and man coverage potential. However, like any rookie, Wiggins will face an adjustment period to the pro game. Injuries in this room could force Wiggins, Armour-Davis, or Kyu Blu Kelly into difficult roles sooner than expected.
Safety is another area of strength, led by the tandem of Marcus Williams and Kyle Hamilton. Williams is a ball-hawking free safety whose range and instincts allow him to erase deep threats, while Hamilton has blossomed into one of the league’s most versatile defenders. Hamilton can play anywhere—from the slot to the box to deep middle—and excels in all three roles. He’s a true chess piece for defensive coordinator Zach Orr, and his ability to match up with tight ends, receivers, and backs gives the Ravens a unique schematic edge. But again, durability is the only real concern. Hamilton missed time as a rookie and took some hard hits last season. Without him, the defense loses much of its unpredictability.
Marcus Williams, meanwhile, has been hampered by a lingering shoulder injury that has cost him significant playing time. When he’s out, the defense is forced to shift Hamilton to a deep safety role and rely more on backups like Geno Stone or Ar’Darius Washington—capable players, but not long-term solutions. Williams’ presence gives the defense its structure and allows others to play freely in their natural roles.
While Baltimore’s defense has plenty of depth on paper, the challenge lies in keeping the starters healthy long enough to gel and dominate. In the modern NFL, where offenses move quickly and injuries are inevitable, that’s easier said than done. Defensive coordinator Zach Orr will have to be smart about rotation, scheme flexibility, and how he uses his stars to minimize wear and tear over the course of a demanding season.
Orr, promoted from within after Mike Macdonald took a head coaching job, brings passion and familiarity to the role. He knows the personnel well and has the trust of the locker room. His challenge will be managing both expectations and bodies—developing younger players while preserving the health of veterans. His success could be the difference between a top-five defense and one that struggles to find consistency late in the year.
The Ravens’ Super Bowl hopes are real. They have the quarterback, the weapons, and the organizational stability. But it’s their defense—the unit that has carried the team through lean offensive stretches, made clutch stops in playoff games, and set the tone for Baltimore football—that must hold up when it matters most.
That starts with staying healthy. No defense, no matter how talented, can survive if its stars are on the sideline when the games count. The 2025 Ravens know this. They’ve felt it. And now, they’re determined to flip the script.
As training camp continues and the regular season approaches, all eyes will be on the health reports as much as the highlight plays. Because if this defense can stay intact, Baltimore may finally have the formula it needs to finish the job and bring the Lombardi Trophy back to Charm City.
